94% of Irish people happy with their quality of life, says EU survey

Maybe it’s the favourable weather, but a new Eurobarometer survey indicates 94% of Irish people are satisfied with the quality of life where they live — well above the EU average of 85%.

The survey, published yesterday by the European Commission, also found an increase in the number of Irish people who feel positive about the domestic economy, although that still equates to about one-in-four people (24%).

Some 95% of Irish people said they were satisfied with their house or flat, and 92% said they were happy with their level of health, with 87% claiming they were happy with their standard of living.

The survey, conducted last month, found 65% of Irish people feel positive about the financial situation in their household, just under the EU respondent average of 66%.

Irish people also feel more optimistic than their EU counterparts when it comes to their personal job situation, at 60% compared to the EU average of 56%.

Similarly, 68% of Irish respondents said they were satisfied with the quality of life here, compared with the EU average elsewhere of 56%.

The percentages fall somewhat when it comes to economic issues, although again the Irish seem more optimistic than people living elsewhere in Europe.

For example, 43% of Irish respondents think the economic situation in Ireland will be better in a year’s time, compared to 24% across the EU, while 32% of Irish people surveyed think the economic situation in the EU will have improved in a year’s time, compared to 24% at EU level.

When it comes to jobs, 52% of Irish respondents said unemployment was one of the most important issues facing their country, while 46% said the employment situation here will have improved by this time next year. This was much higher than the average opinion in respective EU countries of 24%.

Across Ireland and the EU as a whole, 31% of respondents said rising prices and inflation were among the most important issues facing them personally, ahead of unemployment and taxation.

Almost three quarters of Irish respondents said they felt like EU citizens, which was again higher than the EU average.

More than 1,000 Irish people were interviewed for the survey, while 28,004 people were questioned across the whole of Europe.

European Commission vice-president Maroš Šefcovic said Europe was now “turning the corner” and the recent European elections had a positive impact on how citizens viewed the EU and their role in it.

Smile stats

- 94% of Irish people are happy with their quality of life where they live.

- 87% are happy with their standard of living.

- 24% are positive about the domestic economy.

- 43% believe the economic situation in Ireland will be better in a year’s time.